SLIPPERY ROCK — Student veterans at Slippery Rock University now will be able to remotely access VA health care services.

On Thursday, SRU officials and VA Butler Healthcare officials signed an agreement that would make Telehealth available to student veterans.

SRU is the first school in the state to sign such an agreement, and one of the first in the U.S.

“This is a big deal,” said Bob Watson, interim vice president for student affairs.

Telehealth is a national program that uses computers and telecommunication technology to support long-distance health care, patient and profession health-related education, and health administration.

Watson said the program will allow students to connect with physicians and other health care providers at the VA without having to travel to a VA facility. Technology used will include video conferencing, wireless communication and streaming media.

SRU President Cheryl Norton and Jim Torok, program manager of VA Butler Healthcare’s Telehealth program, signed the agreement.

The first Telehealth unit will be in the McLaughlin Student Health Center, and a second setup is to be installed in the new Student Veterans Center in the Robert W. Smith Student Center.

In April, SRU opened the center, which is for student veterans to relax, but also to collaborate on projects, and includes computers, a printer, a television and furniture.

SRU has about 260 self-reported student veterans.